Tyson lobbyist critical after being shot in chest in GOP baseball practice attack

Matt Mika, a lobbyist for Tyson Foods and one of five victims of the carnage at a congressional baseball practice in northern Virginia on Wednesday, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and was in critical condition at a Washington hospital following surgery.

Mika, a Michigan native and director of government relations for Tyson’s D.C. office, is being treated in the intensive care unit at George Washington University Hospital, where his family expects him to remain "for at least several days," according to a statement.

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His parents traveled from their home in Michigan to be with him at the hospital, where friends and colleagues were keeping vigil.

"We continue to be in disbelief that he would be part of this heinous attack," the family said in a statement early Wednesday evening that provided an update on his condition.

Mika is one of at least five people who were wounded when a lone gunman opened fire on the field during the Republican team's baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday morning. Also wounded were House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Zack Barth, a legislative correspondent in the office of Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas), and Capitol Police officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey.

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The GOP team was preparing for a charity game against the Democratic squad, scheduled for Thursday. “As a former baseball player, he was volunteering at this morning’s practice to help the congressional team get ready for the game,” said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), for whom Mika once worked.

Mika, a former college baseball and football player, was not scheduled to play in the game, Tyson said in a statement. His family described baseball as "one of his great passions" and said that his dedication to the congressional team is characteristic of the type of person he is.

"While the attack today was a terrible surprise, Matt’s presence on the ball field, helping longtime colleagues and friends was not," the family's statement added. "He is a very thoughtful, fun-loving person who is competitive and loyal — all things which contributed to his continued commitment to the Congressional Baseball Game.”

Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), a friend of Mika's, said he knows that dedication well, remarking in a statement how Mika "would always be at practices at 6 a.m., full of energy."

"I join with his countless friends across the country in praying for Matt and his family during this difficult time, and I hope he makes a full recovery,” Moolenaar added.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, GOP Reps. Kevin Brady of Texas, Erik Paulsen of Minnesota and John Shimkus of Illinois, who room with Scalise in Washington, showed up together at the George Washington University Hospital to check on Mika.

“He’s been a big part of the team for a number of years and just a great athlete, helps us, frankly, at second base and at shortstop. He’s a great guy,” Brady told reporters before leaving to visit Scalise at another area hospital.

Mika is well known and well regarded in food and agricultural policy circles. In his current role, he works on a variety of livestock concerns, ranging from issues affecting the organic sector to regulations related to fair competition in the meat industry. “Matt has worked for Tyson Foods for more than six years and we’re deeply concerned about him and his family,” Gary Mickelson, a Tyson spokesman, said in a statement.

Mika is a 2001 graduate of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich. He received a master’s degree in public administration and public policy from Western Michigan University in 2004. He started on Capitol Hill in 2005 as a legislative assistant for former Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), and joined Walberg’s staff in 2007. He served as the congressman’s lead staffer on the House Agriculture Committee, according to Mika’s LinkedIn profile.

After Walberg narrowly lost a reelection bid in 2008, Mika left the Hill to lobby for the North American Meat Institute. He joined Tyson Foods in 2011.

Former Michigan state Rep. David Palsrok told a local media outlet that he met Mika in 2004 when he gave him a job running his campaign that year. They have been friends ever since.

“He’s somebody who’s touched a lot of lives in Lansing and in his travels to D.C.,” Palsrok told mlive.com. “There are a lot of people who care for him."

“We're praying for him and we love him," he added. “We're just hoping that he recovers and that he's OK.”

Catherine Boudreau, Austin Wright, Brianna Ehley and John Lauinger contributed to this story.